MY 15 MINUTES by Steve Nadis
Maybe you wouldn’t call it earth-shattering, but a question I asked “Miss Conduct” (the witty and urbane etiquette columnist for the Boston Globe Magazine) was addressed in last week’s issue. I got a very polite note back from her letting me know it was a “good f_ _ _ ing question,” though I knew that already. (I was pretty darn proud of it, realizing I finally had something worthwhile to ask Miss Conduct after having read her column for weeks, straining to come up with a decent query). I was assured that my question would be answered in a column she had already prepared on a similar topic–namely whether to ask people who you’re pretty sure don’t have jobs what they do for work when they ask you the same. (Boy, do I hate that question!) She said to “ask the f _ _ _ away,” so long as you do it in a thoughtful and respectful manner–a caveat that could be applied to most etiquette-related matters when you get right down to it, save for those special occasions when you’re obliged to be boorish and inappropriate. Interestingly, the last time I was in a social situation (three or four years ago), I followed the letter of her instructions–”asking the f _ _ _ away,” so to speak–so it’s good to know that my instincts, as always, are right on the mark.
Posted by
at
14:10:16
I figured you had asked the question about the appropriateness of clipping one’s toenails in a cubicle in an office.
BTW, I figured I would beat Burt to the punch and say "Not f___ing funny."
Too bad I didn’t think of the toenail thing. Now that would have been f___ing funny.
At first I was glad to see Burt wasn’t here. But now I’m kinda worried. I mean, it seemed to be all he lived for, waiting for a new post, and getting in his "Not Funny" comment. I hope he’s OK, he may be a little f___er, but he’s OUR little f___er.
I guess everybody needs a break now and then. I hope Burt heeds that advice and takes them often, perhaps permanently.
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